BARDERE – Somali national army forces launched an attack on targets held by Al Shabaab fighters in Bardere town, leaving dozens of fighters dead.
The town is situated some 320km southwest of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.
Monday’s operation killed at least 25 armed fighters from Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab fighters, according to deputy governor of Gedo region, Mohamed Hussein.
Hussein says a senior militants’ commander, whose name has not been identified was among those killed in the offensive.
“We will continue fighting against Al Shabaab. The militants will be got rid of the region”, he said.
There was no immediate response from Al Shabaab over the military claims.
The Shabab fighters fled fixed positions in Mogadishu 2011 and have since lost most large towns to a 22,000-strong UN-backed African Union force, fighting alongside government soldiers.
But the group’s fighters still hold sway in areas of the rural hinterland, from which they regularly launch attacks
